Sentences : Simple, Compound and Complex
Sentences are of three kinds on the basis of clauses.
- Sentences
- Simple
- Compound
- Complex
Before learning the sentences, we must know what the independent clauses and dependent clauses are.
I am hungry. |
↓ |
when I eat leaves |
↓ |
I grow fast |
↓ |
after that I turn into a butterfly |
↓ |
that comes out of a cocoon |
The clauses that are bold can stand on their own. They do not depend on other clauses to make complete sense.
They are main clauses. They are also called independent clauses.
The clauses that are underlined cannot stand on their own. They depend on other clauses to complete their meanings.
They are subordinate clauses. they are also called dependent clauses.
Simple sentence
A simple sentence contains only one main clause and no other clause.
Example,- Jai ate his lunch.
- This is an interesting book.
- A sentence that has only one subject and one predicate is called a simple sentence.
- A simple sentence must contain a finite verb.
Compound Sentence
A sentence that contains two or more main clauses is called a compound sentence. These clauses are connected with conjunction.
For Example,- Sonia likes to eat fruits, but she does not like apples.
This sentence has more than one subject and predicate. Therefore, it is not a simple sentence.
This sentence has two clauses - Sonia likes to eat fruits and she does not like apples.
Both of them are main clauses since they are complete in meaning and can stand on their own. These two clauses are joined by the conjunction but to form a longer sentence.
So this sentence is a compound sentence.
Conjunctions that join two or more main clauses are called coordinating conjunctions. The conjunctions and, but, or, yet, for and so are some common coordinating conjunctions.
The conjunctions of compound sentences differ from that of complex sentences.
Complex Sentence
A sentence that has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses is called a complex sentence.
For Example,- She must go to bed when the lights are out.
This sentence also contains two clauses.
The first clause is - She must go to bed. This clause can stand on its own. It is a main clause.
The second clause is - when the lights are out. This clause cannot stand on its own. It needs the first clause to complete its meaning. It is subordinate clause.
Since this sentence contains a main clause and a subordinate clause, it is a complex sentence.
- The subordinate clause is joined to the main clause using conjunctions such as because, since, after, although, as soon as and when.
- Subordinate clauses are also joined to the main clause with the help of relative pronouns such as that, who, or which.
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